Cricket World Cup: Quinton de Kock's ton leads South Africa to 149-run win over Bangladesh

South Africa's Quinton de Kock smashed an incredible 174 off 140 balls while Bangladesh struggled; Watch Australia face the Netherlands on October 25 at 9.30am, live on Sky Sports Cricket

Um-E-Aymen Babar

Sports Journalist

Wednesday 25 October 2023 06:08, UK

South Africa produced yet another batting masterclass to thrash Bangladesh by 149 runs in Mumbai and move up to second in the Cricket World Cup table.

Opener Quinton de Kock smashed a dazzling 174 off 140 deliveries while captain Aiden Markram added 60 and Heinrich Klaasen hit 90 to help the Proteas post an impressive 382-5.

Bangladesh got off to a positive start with left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam (1-76) bowling Reeza Hendricks (12) and spinner Mehidy Hasan (1-44) trapping Rassie van der Dussen (one) lbw.

Bangladesh then struggled to dismiss South Africa's power hitters allowing them to rack up a significant score, and were well off the required pace in their chase, losing their middle order cheaply.

Mahmudullah (111) put up a solid fight at the death reaching his third century in World Cup cricket but fell to a cutter by Marco Jansen (2-39), leaving Bangladesh 233 all out.

A fourth consecutive defeat sees Bangladesh sink to the bottom of the table, with England just ahead on net run-rate.

Superb South Africa continue to impress

De Kock hit his third century in five games in this tournament to lead his side to a substantial total, sharing a 131 stand with Markram and 142 with Klaasen.

Markram brought up his ninth ODI fifty in style, smashing Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-44) past point for four, which was just one of his seven boundaries in his innings.

Klaasen's incredible form continued as he smashed eight sixes and two fours to reach his half-century from just 34 balls.

Mahmud brought an end to De Kock's spectacular innings with a full toss that was sliced to deep backward point where Nasum Ahmed took a comfortable catch. The South Africa opener walked off to a standing ovation from the crowd at Wankhede Stadium, his old IPL home ground.

Klaasen looked frustrated after he fell 10 runs short of what would have been back-to-back tons when he launched a slower bouncer from Mahmud over the covers but didn't get the distance on it, allowing Mahmudullah to take the catch in the deep.

David Miller (34no) and Marco Jansen (1no) kept the scoreboard ticking over while the tailenders were not required.

Bangladesh lose fourth game at World Cup

Fast bowler Jansen immediately got to work during the powerplay, dismissing Bangladesh openers Tanzid Hasan (12) and Najmul Hossain Shanto for a golden duck in consecutive deliveries.

Bangladesh then suffered a middle-order collapse, falling from 30-2 in the seventh over to 58-5 in the 15th, at which point they looked doubtful to reach triple figures.

Mahmudullah dragged his side to 227-9 with an impressive 111 runs off as many balls, his third World Cup century equating to half of Bangladesh's total World Cup hundreds, before Gerald Coetzee (3-62) had him caught at long-off.

South Africa's death bowling was the least impressive part of their performance, they struggled against England and the Netherlands in the same manner, allowing Bangladesh to reach a more respectable total.

Needing 172 runs from 36 balls, Bangladesh's task appeared all-but impossible and their lower-order batters struggled to maintain a substantial partnership.

Nasum Ahmed (19) was caught and bowled by Coetzee with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (2-42) dismissing Hasan Mahmud (15) before Lizaad Williams (2-56) took the final wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim (11).

De Kock: ‘A great day out’

Player of the match, South Africa opener Quinton de Kock:

"I am a bit more tired than satisfied. It was a great day out for the guys. Everyone did their part.

"I was little bit nervous but it was great day. I had a bit of fun and it is great to get another two points."

“Klaasen has been amazing, I don’t know what he’s doing. I need some of that juice. He’s been special all around the world. I’m really happy for him.”

Markram: ‘We will keep striving for big performances’

South Africa captain Aiden Markram:

"It was a great day for us. What Quinton did tonight was superb and then Klaasen smashed it like he has in this tournament.

"The top six or seven are different in their approach but it gels quite nicely. We will keep striving to put in big performances after each game."

Al Hasan: ‘We should have bowled better’

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan:

"Quinton de Kock batted really well and the way Heinrich Klaasen finished it off was something we didn't have any answers to.

"We conceded 144 from the last 10 overs, which is probably the most expensive 10 overs we've bowled in the last 10-15 years. We should have bowled better but we lost our plans in the last 10 overs. I'm hopeful we can come back in this tournament."